Oman Air Cargo will introduce new fuel and war risk surcharges across its global cargo network from 18 March 2026, as the airline responds to mounting cost pressures linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The carrier said the decision reflects continued volatility in aviation fuel markets as well as rising insurance and security expenses tied to operations in elevated-risk regions.
The new charges will apply to all shipments originating from, destined for, or transiting through the Oman Air Cargo network.
Under the revised structure, the war risk surcharge will be calculated per kilogram, based on the chargeable weight shown on the Master Air Waybill.
The fuel surcharge, meanwhile, will be tied directly to the US Gulf Coast Jet A1 price per gallon, using benchmark data published by the US Energy Information Administration. Oman Air Cargo said this rate will be reviewed on a weekly basis to reflect movements in global fuel markets.
The airline added that both surcharges will remain under ongoing review and may be adjusted further depending on changes in fuel costs, insurance pricing or broader market conditions.
The move comes as air cargo operators across the region face a more complex operating environment, with conflict-related disruption forcing rerouting, reducing available capacity and pushing up the cost of maintaining secure service levels.
For shippers, the announcement is another sign that pricing volatility in the Middle East is no longer limited to transit disruption alone. It is now becoming embedded directly into airline surcharge structures, with carriers seeking faster mechanisms to recover rapidly changing operating costs.
If regional instability continues, similar surcharge measures from other operators are likely to follow.
